Ginseng

Ginseng (Panax) is a genus of about five or six species of slow-growing perennial
plants with fleshy roots, in the family Araliaceae. They grow in the
Northern Hemisphere in eastern Asia and North America, typically in
cooler climates; Panax vietnamensis, discovered in Vietnam, is the southernmost
ginseng found. Ginseng is characterized by the presence of ginsenoside.

Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is not considered a true
ginseng; instead of a fleshy root, it has a woody root; instead of ginsenosides,
eleutherosides are present.

Some other species previously classified in Panax are now treated in
the separate genera Polyscias and Pseudopanax.

History

The name ginseng comes from the Chinese term Ren Shen (??), which means
man root. It was originally the common name for several plants valued
for their medicinal properties; although ginseng is now most often associated
with the genus Panax, some researchers believe that the original ginseng
used in ancient China may have been a different plant. Although ginseng
is often seen as an East Asian medicine, American ginseng has been used
by Native Americans for centuries. A wide variety of ginseng is generally
available in many Chinatown herb shops and ethnic Chinese supermarkets.

Modern science and Ginseng

The positive medicinal effects of ginseng have been difficult to prove
using modern science. Frequently, there are contradictory results from
different studies. Supporters claim that this is due to the wide variety
of ginseng quality used in studies. The quality and neutrality of studies
from East Asia have also been questioned. Another issue is that there
is no profit to be achieved from researching ginseng because it cannot
be patented; therefore, pharmaceutical companies have no incentive to
research ginseng. As a result, quality studies into the effects of ginseng
are rare. Ironically, one of the better studies involving ginseng actually
uses a proprietary formula of ginseng.

Ginseng is highly prized as an adaptogen (a product that does no harm,
but increases the body's resistance to stress). Unfortunately, this
property is extremely difficult to prove scientifically as well.

A comparative, randomized and double-blind government study does indicate
it to be "a promising dietary supplement" when assessed for
an increase in quality of life.

Panax ginseng appears to inhibit some characteristics associated with
cancer in animal models; nevertheless, this effect is unclear in humans.

Ginseng that is produced in the United States and Canada is particularly
prized in Chinese societies, and many ginseng packages are prominently
colored red, white, and blue.
Alleged effects: promotes Yin energy, cleans excess Yang in the body,
calms the body. The reason it has been claimed that American ginseng
promotes Yin (shadow, cold, negative, female) while East Asian ginseng
promotes Yang (sunshine, hot, positive, male) is that, according to
traditional Chinese medicine, things living in cold places are strong
in Yang and vice versa, so that the two are balanced. Chinese/Korean
ginseng grows in northeast China and Korea, the coldest area known to
Chinese in the old time, so ginseng from there is supposed to be very
Yang. And originally, American ginseng was imported to China from subtropical
Canton, the seaport next to Hong Kong, so Chinese doctors believed that
American ginseng must be good for Yin, because it came from a hot area.
However they did not know that American ginseng can only grow in temperate
regions. This story supports the idea that the alleged effects of ginseng
have no scientific basis.
The ginseng is sliced, a few slices are soaked in hot water to make
a tea.
Most American ginseng is produced in the Canadian provinces of Ontario
and British Columbia and the American state of Wisconsin. P. quinquefolius
is now also grown in northern China.
A randomized, double-blind study shows that American ginseng reduces
influenza cases in the elderly when compared to placebo.

Wild ginseng

Wild ginseng is ginseng that is not cultivated and harvested from nature.
Wild ginseng is relatively rare, and in many cases threatened or endangered.
Wild ginseng has been shown to contain higher levels of ginsenoside.

Red ginseng is Panax ginseng that has been heated, either through steaming
or sun-drying. This version of ginseng is associated with stimulating
sexual function and anti-cancer benefits. In this context, regular,
non-heated ginseng is referred to as White ginseng.

A double-blind, crossover study of Red ginseng's effects on impotence
show a marked positive effect.